Happy Thanksgiving

I find it hard to express the overwhelming gratitude I have for my life and the people in it. I glance back over the years and the many challenges I have faced, and I find myself being grateful for them. Life always turns out the way it should. Even in the darkest of nights, day still came. Sometimes with rain, and other times with sunshine. But the color of the sky was what I made of it. 

 

This year has brought many new people into my life, and taken others away. But with each shift in the universe a memory was made, and I am thankful that I touched a life, and someone has touched mine.

We are all connected. And through this connection let us feel the gratitude of what we can be together. With friends and family there is nothing we cannot do, and nothing we cannot be. We are the wind beneath each others wings, and for that I am thankful. Because you are my wind, and you give me strength daily.

Today find a moment to be grateful for not only what you have in your life and all the good things, but also for all the troubles and challenges that you, too, have survived to grow into the person you are, or want to become. Take a moment to toast those that are no longer with you, and those that are sitting at the table beside you. They are all part of who you are. Present and Past.

My day will be spent with my daughters, my son-in-laws, all the grandkids and my husband. There were a few moments this year, we didn't think this day would be possible. My kitchen is functional and big enough for us all to be in together and fit a tree. We are starting a new tradition of the kids decorating the Thanksmas tree in the kitchen while the adults cook. Granted the eldest of the grandkids is four, but we will have an awesome looking tree. 

Yes, we have a Thanksmas tree because my youngest daughter and her family won't be with us on Christmas. And Friday will be the photo shoot of the little elves. 

What are you doing special today? Remember... you don't have to 'do' to make the day special, you just have 'be.' 

Happy Thanksgiving to the most precious person on earth... You! And I hope no matter what has befallen before you, or you fear for the future, that you live in this moment and know that everything is right with the universe because you are here. You get to write this chapter of your life. Enjoy, and make it everything you want it to be. 

XO Karlene

Monday Motivation: Forgiveness

"With forgiveness, I take the first step
towards letting go of all things
that no longer serve ~ any purpose."

Eleesha

It's human nature to place blame for our feelings of angst, frustration, and disappointment in others because they didn't behave as we expected. Placing blame enables us to make our feelings of discomfort the fault of someone else, instead of owning those feelings. We can focus on something tangible... like being angry at them for their ruining our lives!

With the holidays ~ and the approaching new year ~ come expectations of what we think life should be - the families and life we wish we had. The Norman Rockwell Christmas that should have been. The goals we didn't meet. The dreams that didn't manifest. It's so much easier to make all that the fault of someone else.

People do impact our lives. They make decisions and do things that we don't believe were in our best interest. Recently I had an electrician pull a scam on my office wiring, causing me thousands of dollars. I'm not rolling over, but I'm also not living into the anger and allowing him to ruin my day. I know that there is a lesson to be learned here, and I'm listening.

To give anyone else power by being angry at them, is enabling them to control your life. I choose to be in control. I choose not to allow my mind not to focus on the negative of what other people do, or don't do. I don't have enough time or energy. There is only one way to live a healthy life: Forgiveness.

Forgive those people that haunt your brain. Let go of the anger for their taking advantage of you, lack of support, not behaving or being the people you think they should have been. When those people cross your mind, mentally send them a blessing, a wish, or a kind thought that they find their path. Then let it go. Talk about a healing moment.

This post is dedicated to those who are facing disappointments in others, frustration of how they think the country, health care, or businesses should be run, who should support them, anger with their family and friends... and all those who are finding the holidays a difficult time.

Take a moment and forgive those you feel have harmed you. Then let it go. Forgiveness doesn't make them right, it just enables you to live a mentally and physically healthy life.

Happy Holidays!

XOX Karlene